bay where the ship was stranded.

Here grass and a species of fern were growing abundantly around a pool
of water, fed from a tiny rivulet that trickled down from the cliff
above; and I had no sooner got under the shelter of the leafy branches
than I was surrounded by a flock of the pretty grey doves whose gentle
cooing I had heard.

They were so tame that they came hopping on my head and outstretched
hand, and I was sorry I had not brought some biscuit in my pocket, so
that I might feed them.

It was so calm and still in the mossy glade that I threw myself down on
the grass, remaining until it got nearly dark, when I thought it about
time to return to the ship, though loth to leave the doves, who cooed a
soft farewell after me, which I continued to hear long after I lost
sight of them.

I got back to the shore safely without further adventure, until I was
close under the ship, when I had a fearful fright from a huge tortoise
that I ran against, and which seemed to spit in my face, it hissed at me
so viciously.

It must have been four feet high at least, and what its circumference
was goodness only knows, for I could have laid down on its back with
ease, as it was as broad as a table.

I did not attempt to do this, however, but scrambled up the ship's side
as quickly as I could, and made my way to the galley, in order to get my
tea, which Hiram had promised to keep hot for me.

Outside the galley, though, I met the American, who frightened me even
more than the big tortoise had done the minute before.

"Say, Cholly," he cried, his voice trembling with terror, "thet ghost of
the nigger cook air hauntin' us still; I seed him thaar jest now,
a-sottin' in the corner of the caboose an' a-playin' on his banjo, ez
true ez I'm a livin' sinner!"

CHAPTER TWELVE.

THE GOLDEN MADONNA.

"My goodness! you don't mean that, Hiram?" I exclaimed, seeing from his
earnest manner that he was not trying to hoax me, but stating what he
really believed to be a fact. "When was it that you saw the ghost?"

"Jest on sundown, Cholly, arter the men hed thaar tea an' cleared out,
the whole bilin' ov 'em, skipper an' all, goin' ashore, like ez ye did,
sonny, afore 'em, to prospect the country an' look at the big turtle an'
other streenge varmint. Thaar warn't a soul left aboard but thet brute
Flinders an' myself; an' he wer so basted by the lickin' ez Jan
Steenbock giv him thet he wer lyin' down in the cabin an' pizenin'
hisse